This church was organized at Mobley’s Schoolhouse in 1911, but the congregation was too large for that facility. This structure was built soon thereafter. The church is named for Mrs. Mary Newbern Smith, who I assume may have given the land for the construction of the church, but I can’t confirm that at this time.

I originally thought it was abandoned, but it’s still active. Reverend Beverly E. King is pastor. They have services there on the second and fourth Sundays at 10:00 A.M. and also have 100% attendance most of the time.

3 responses to “Mary’s Chapel Methodist Church, 1912, Coffee County”

Brian,
I remember Mary’s Chapel Methodist Church from the 1950’s. It was located between Snipesville and Broxton. It was one of many small churches of the era. One by one they are vanishing. I am pleased to know that Mary’s Chapel remains active. My family attended Excelsior Methodist at Snipesville, Georgia located just east of the intersection of GA. 107 and GA. 268. Excelsior is another small church, that still hangs on but is certainly on the “endangered” list. Next time you are in the area drop by and take a few pictures of Excelsior. My entire family grew-up in that wonderful country church.
These churches are iconic and once represented an important part of the rural culture of South Georgia. Members usually lived in the immediate farming area. The preachers served as many as three different congregations. The communities simply were not large enough to support a single preacher who preached every Sunday.
In those days, these churches served spiritual and personal needs of their communities. If a farmer got sick and could not plow his fields or pull his corn, church members would take care of those essential tasks. Pastors visited their flock frequently, often having Sunday dinner with members or supper before prayer meetings during the week. In most of these churches, politics were left to other times and places. Spiritual messages were the focus of the sermons and discussions.
Have you ever driven by an old dilapidated country church and wondered what happened to its members? Where did they go, what caused the church to be abandoned, and allowed to rot away?